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Versatility
This past Saturday I had a gig I will never ever forget. I’m usually behind the drum set or playing percussion but the reason why this gig was so very special was because it was my first one as a bassist. I have been working hard on this instrument for about 5 years and I was finally able to play live. The experience was vastly different than any other performance I’ve ever done.
The pressure was different, my role was different, the place where I was on stage was different, the way I heard the music on stage was different, my interaction with the crowd was different… and at the same time the energy has to be the same, my ear has to be present, my mind as well and all the all encompassing elements have to be there. The respect for the crowd, remembering song structure, etc etc etc. It was very eye opening and allowed me to approach the days before the show, my preparation and my expectations in a completely different way. It felt so fresh and new and different.
On Sunday I taught a bass lesson and I was explaining to my student how it all went and since he’s a young football player I tried making the comparison of a player that has to play in a different position and what the parallels are. That within itself was eye opening, coming from the perspective of someone who had just lived something similar hours prior.
I think we’ve all become so used to the idea of players playing out of position that we have lost sight of just exactly how difficult it actually is. Regardless of the reason… it can be because of an injury or just tactics, but it takes a very special type of person to play well in different positions. Even within the role of a 6 for example… playing as a left 6 or a right 6 are totally different things for most players and it takes a special person to truly succeed, in my opinion.
Most teams, specially in the women’s game, have players that are versatile and can play in many positions and AWFC is not different in that regard and if anything we could be using this to our advantage even more that we currently do, maybe.. maybe not? Maybe we should have the best player possible for every position and not rotate positions but specialized players instead?
I have no idea and that’s why I hit drums for a living.
d ❤
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No CL, No Earps?
When I first read the tweets and heard the rumors about Mary Earps signing for us, I had a mixed bag of emotions. Part of me doesn’t like her, and others absolutely adores her. My first reaction was: is she better than Manu? Do we actually need her? How would she impact the dynamic of the current squad?
I certainly have a very clean opinion about the first question: I’m not sure but yes? I care so much emotionally about Manu that I might be blinded, but judging by the awards, the international success, the plaudits… Mary Earps is the best keeper in the world, although I think Endler is better. So I guess YES.
To try to answer the second question I think sadly it would mean what you already know: that I’m an asshole for not liking some players everyone loves… and maybe because I have seen very little of her I don’t quite rate Sabrina, but this means absolutely nothing. Just because I haven’t seen much of her doesn’t mean that she isn’t good at all and I don’t remember a single moment that she let me down so this kinda answers my question. But if its a matter of a great keeper that hasn’t been doing anything wrong or the best keeper in the world, then you’d think its a no brainer.
BUT
Only if it will affect negatively the overall vibe of the squad and that is very important. Notice I said negatively because it implies it didn’t or wouldn’t work out. Sometimes you need a jolt, a change and s shift and arsenal men are doing it, literally hours ago with David Raya, who replaced Ramsdale for the match at Goodison Park.
My guess is that it would affect the squad in the best of ways. With a MASSIVE personality, and shit housing expert, a top, top, top performer PLUS it will weaken Man Utd, a club that is very unstable at the moment and if we manage to pull this one after Russo, it’ll make up for whatever has happened or will happen between the clubs. Ok not really but kinda?
One thing is for damn sure, these plans have to have been impacted even in the slightest way, by the lack of CL football. We need less rotation, we can use Sabrina for the odd cup matches here and there but it’s tricky to see how this will develop when I feel there’s clear need for a goalkeeper update.
d ❤
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Short one today
Friends, as I was sitting down to write this I was informed that my soundcheck today was moved by a few hours and I basically need to leave right now. But as always, I want to write every single day, without missing one. As an exercise, I’m just gonna write about whatever I come up with as I type this and what is coming to mind is how I have a very clear idea of what I would like the team to be with the current players we have aka no Viv, Laura or Leah.
As it stands I think I would like to see a 4-3-3 … Manu on goal and Steph and Noelle as full backs. I wanna see Amanda and Laia as the CB pairing and right in from of them Lia with Kim and Kyra running the show. McCabe on the left, Caitlin on the right and Russo 9. Yes, no Frida for now.
I totally get people loving the Catley/Foord down the wing thing but I would rather have McCabe start if that means foord on the left.
Sadly I really have to go!!!!!
I’ll write more tomorrow.
d ❤
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Aussies Rule
I know that there were a lot of things to choose from and this is precisely why I feel this is meaningful to me. If you were to ask me for one takeaway from the World Cup I would have to say (excluding DVD and Dom Janssen) The Matildas. They were nothing short of magical, historic and heroic. Among the things I loved about them was how set their team was and how everyone seemed to play at a very high level, with energy, humility and palpable gratitude.
Of course our girls shined.. Steph and Caitlin were as reliable as it gets and both had stellar competitions, just like the majority of their fellow starting 11, and maybe with the exception of Ellie Carpenter, it’s my humble and biased opinion that Cooney-Cross was the standout player. She pulled strings, she tackled, she NEVER STOPPED RUNNING. I think she’s the exact type of player and the exact player we could use. I think she’s gonna compliment the team extremely well, bringing different qualities that I feel are only going to add value to Kim, Lia and Frida. She has great ball control and her decision making and football IQ is closer to Kim/Lia than I think people expect. She’s the real deal.
Having a few players of any one nation has always been cool in my book. Different cultures, different experiences and dare I say different eras wink wink, since it’ll continuously change. There was a time when Dutchies were click, so to speak, and these Aussies, aside from just being from Australia duh, these players have lived something unique that doesn’t come along often and that bond can only benefit us as a club like I mentioned yesterday.
Would’ve loved to see Mary Earps but things seem to point at that being a reality real soon and that’s way sooner than I thought. Usually the windows feel farther apart than they are but I’ve never wanted a transfer window to start sooner than this one in 3 months time.
October 1st can’t come soon enough.
d ❤
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How good was our transfer activity?
The summer transfer window is closing in a few hours and if I had to summarize our transfers during this summer I’d grade it as 7/10. If I take a look back at my summer transfer wishlist, none of the players I wanted were bought, which doesn’t mean anything at all. I was hoping for Mapi Leon or Alex Greenwood because I thought they would be unreal additions to the team beyond their ability on the ball. I thought we should get Beth England as a forward option and as far as our midfield I would’ve loved to have seen Deyna Castellanos or my #1 transfer wish: Denise O’Sullivan.
Jonas clearly doesn’t read my blog. Although I did mention loving the idea of Russo and we got her. And that brings me to the overall assessment that we did really well. Not getting the players I thought I wanted is totally irrelevant. The 3 players that come in, and a potential 4th, are massive every way you look at it. Two of the best defenders in the World Cup, one of the best forwards on the planet, who is so young still…
I do think we need a world class keeper to rival Manu and another midfielder. Without Viv or Leah, just having Lia, Kim and Frida as solid, established options might be too lite. Kuhl is the future but as far as the present I think the potential of KCC is incredible. I have read the tweets but nothing has been confirmed as I’m typing this. Just like the rest of the world, I thought she was phenomenal at the World Cup and she would be a great addition, especially with Caitlin and Steph already her and both whom I suspect will have a massive part to play this season due to their acquired experience this summer. Their lives changed forever and I feel Arsenal will benefit beyond words.
To be fair, the lack of European football means less matches and it might be a way of coping still, but I’m fully embracing just focusing on the WSL and the domestic cups. I have come to terms with that reality and I am fully behind this team in any competitions they’re in.
Thanks for listening to the podcast! The latest episode has been one of the most downloaded to date!! Pretty cool!
d ❤
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BARBIE FC
After months of trying to but not being able to, I finally had time to actually go to a movie theater for the first time since well before covid. Typing that sounds absolutely insane but I don’t remember the last time I had done it. My wife and I had talked about going to the movies for a while but we wanted to wait for a perfect time/movie/occasion. Like most of you, I have been surrounded by Barbie reviews, comments, tweets, posters, ads etc. I have loved everything I had heard about it, it was intriguing and I just couldn’t wait to watch it. But I have to admit that at first I didn’t want to watch it on the big screen, just because I assumed that it was better so heard loud explosions or basically John Wick or The Equalizer, but OMG i’m SO happy that I opened my mind.
The movie was incredible. It surpassed any expectations I had. It was insightful, powerful, funny, beautiful to look at, amazing music and how can I not mention my favorite band HAIM having a song in the movie? Everything about it was phenomenal. And… you guessed it, I thought about Arsenal Women. And before you assume that all I do is try to fit AWFC into everything I do, which is not wrong, I need you to know that I look for inspiration in them to be a better person, to grow, to expand and to be as empathetic as I can.
Barbie had so many lessons and I think a lot of men should watch it and if they don’t like it, they should. I consider myself to be very sensitive and sensible and I was so awakened by the messages, the insights and my wife’s reactions. Also loved my conversations with her when it was over and how we saw many things the same way and also how we can’t possibly see it how the other one see’s it. And this is what made me think of Arsenal Women. The fact that no matter how much I try I could never understand what its like to be a female footballer, with as much hate as the sports gets, with as much adversity and negativity, and sexism and misogyny in 2023 when it’s supposed to be the best it’s ever been.
Anyway… the videos and images from the camp over in Germany look amazing. Smiles all around and I absolutely love that. What I would also love is a couple of signings and they need to happen as soon as possible so they integrate in the team and we can focus on the WSL that can’t start soon enough!
d ❤
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Mindset Monsters
The ability to recover from a heartbreaking defeat is something that I will always be impressed by. Impossible to state all the reasons but one of them is the fact that it jolts my mind trying to comprehend the exact moment when something goes wrong and the totality that is getting to that point in the first place, by taking into account every single experience that got us there. That duality of thought is so challenging to comprehend that I don’t even try because my head would explode.
This past Sunday I played at my second ever pickleball tournament. My partner and I worked a lot, played a ton of matches the weeks before and overall felt very confident. We got to the club very early, with plenty of water, snacks, all of our gear was on point, including yours truly wearing a DVD Netherlands shirt. All the teams met up and we heard about the rules and the courts we were using. As soon as we realized something weird about the format my mind just got distracted. I hadn’t even hit a ball yet and I was thinking about how the format could not be advantageous for us.
But we started great… beat 3 teams in a row, we were flying… both of us playing really well, confident, solid, communicative. Then it all went to hell. We played a couple who wasn’t anywhere near as good or strong as us but we took the foot off the gas and played too clever and ended up losing by 1 single point, which is part of the format change that we didn’t like. Normally you have to win by 2 points and that is what we are all used to, so mentally we weren’t ON. I sure wasn’t and thought we could get another stop, but we didn’t. We went on to have a 5-2 record, tied for 3rd and we thought we could get a medal but the tiebreaker was a head to head situation which meant, and you guessed it! the team we lost to ended up beating us for 3rd.
It sucked. We felt so defeated, in every way. We did have so much fun and had no expectations and all that great stuff but we would’ve liked to win. We played GREAT and got nothing, but we learned a lot and I loved every single minute of it.
But when I got to my car, the first thing I thought about was our AWFC girls. And I wasn’t feeling sorry. This isn’t about “oh those poor girls had to suffer REAL defeat” hell no… they are elite, incredible mentality monsters. Of course I don’t want them to suffer, ever but what this pickleball situation showed me, not that I needed proof, how far advanced these women are. I was bummed for days, still am actually. Every time I think about it I wanna scream into a pillow.
There is not doubt in my mind that the girls will come back stronger, better, smarter and more focused. Until it happens again and the process repeats. There’s no giving up and if they don’t give up, the ones that actually do the work, how the hell are WE going to give up on them from out couches?
d ❤
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Rubiales finally resigns
I apologize in advance because my head is currently mush and I’m dealing with a ton of music things at the moment and the following paragraphs might not make all the sense in the world but wanted to write something really quick about Rubiales.
First of all this person should have been FIRED on the spot, weeks ago. Let’s be very clear on that. The fact that so many days went by and he was still employed is insane to me but whatever, it is done. This might not be the exact validation that Jenni and co needed but it’s definitely a good thing for them, for women, for football as well.
The thing that stands out to me at the moment is the little attention this is getting. It is my opinion that this should be all over the press, in lots of countries, and featured much more than it is. I say that because this is where the consequences of the actions can be exploited to the advantage of the abused, so to speak. There should be as much humiliation and palpable consequences as possible.
I wonder if this resignation is conditioned by a threat to further sue him or him facing criminal charges, which I still hope should be an option and a reality. I can definitely see a scenario where he and his team and federation negotiated something behind closed doors that would allow him to do this and make compromises and concede certain things. I don’t know.
At this point I would love to see him in prison.
HAPPY MONDAY!!!
d ❤
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Win Some, Learn Some
Instead of writing all of my thoughts, I will just share a podcast doing just that. Love you all and that’s what we need at the moment.
d ❤
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Paris FC who?
I can see why you would read that title and assume I’m disrespecting the French club, but I can assure you I mean no disrespect at all. It’s not like I’m saying “Tottenham Who?” which we can all agree is a fair question. I truly mean the question…. who are Paris FC? And the answer is that I have no idea. I’m not an expert and I cannot do all the research as if I was a legit journalist, analyst or radio host.
And this is precisely one of my favorite things about still being newish to women’s football. It’s the constant discovery, the constant moments that prove my cringe worth ignorance. It’s very humbling and interesting and freeing all in one. I embrace and I encourage myself to reduce these too, because I actually do want to know more and more about women’s football as a whole, or at the very least, know the teams AWFC are playing against.
But honestly, this idea of doing research or studying up on clubs and players isn’t easy and its not common sense. I think it takes a very special person who are living a special set of things, that allows them of flourish. They know how to research, they know what to remember, they know what they need to know. I, on the other hard, have only enough memory and mental capacity to know very little at one given time because my head is filled with songs I need to learn to perform or to teach, so it’s hard for me to say the least.
One of the things you see on social media is a lot of people talking as if they know what’s going on, and I think I’m guilty of it too and that is why I try to post sort of weird content in a way. It’s my own way of keeping myself honest. I can’t preview a match in a professional way when I have no idea about the opposition and if I were to write about it I would be totally making stuff up. And you deserve better than that… I don’t care if one person reads this or 20 or 10k. It’s irrelevant to me… you deserve better, always. That’s why I don’t do YouTube shows anymore. And the last live post match chat I did I didn’t feel like I shared anything that important, but I will continue to do those whenever possible.
This definitely took a left turn BUT in the spirit of a preview of sorts, as much I would expect Jonas to keep the same team I’m hopeful that we will see Laia Codina start. I also felt that Katie had a very quiet game and these high stakes situations is when she usually shines, so I would expect a McCabe masterclass and don’t be surprised if Alessia grabs a couple of goals. Not saying that it’ll be an easy match, it can very well end 2-1 for us or 2-5 but my points remain the same.
I wonder what Manu might be going through mentally as it relates to the potential signing of Mary Earps, which btw I don’t think will go through, but this is basically the current theme at Arsenal FC as a whole.
Really hope the streaming situation is sorted and I can watch the match properly but if not, I really hope you don’t have to deal with that non sense.
Prediction? 3-0 again.
d ❤
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A very subjective look into AWFC 